Nathan Lyon has never hidden his bias, yet his message before this northern winter’s Ashes is clear: a spinner belongs in every Test XI in Australia.
“You’re asking the spinner if they want to pick a spinner,” Lyon laughed. “For me, yeah, you’re picking a spinner in every side. Variation, it changes the whole tempo of the game. I think spinners can play a very effective role out here if their skill sets suit.”
England’s selectors appear less certain. They have chosen Will Jacks, who last played Test cricket in 2022, as understudy to off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and could, at times, field an all-seam attack. Recent history explains the caution: since Lyon’s debut in 2011, visiting spinners have averaged 62.09 in Australia, against Lyon’s 31.08. Even so, the last England team to win down under – Andrew Strauss’s 2010-11 side – relied heavily on Graeme Swann’s off-spin in a four-pronged attack.
“I grew up here. I understand and built my craft around playing on wickets that don’t spin,” Lyon said. “So, I’ve had to find a way to firstly survive but also create chances and build pressure along the way, and it’s something that I thoroughly enjoy doing, and I’ll keep doing that.”
Lyon’s own place briefly came under scrutiny in July when Australia went with four quicks in the pink-ball Test in Jamaica. The gamble worked – West Indies were routed for 27 and Scott Boland claimed a hat-trick – but the off-spinner still feels he had a part to play.
“Disappointed that I wasn’t a part of that, but I understood the reasons behind it and at the end of the day, you look at it now, it’s a pretty good call and brave call,” he admitted. “But if I’m going to miss a Test for anyone, it’s going to be Scott Boland, that’s for sure. I’m only disappointed because I believe my skill set can play a role in any conditions around the world and I kind of feel like I’ve proven that to be effective.”
Selectors have already signalled that an attack without Lyon is highly unlikely on home soil. One wicket shy of equalling Glenn McGrath’s 563, Lyon remains Australia’s second-highest bowler on the all-time list and, at 38, shows few signs of slowing.
Early season tune-up
Preparation for the Ashes starts this week, with Lyon captaining New South Wales against Western Australia in Perth. It will be only the second time he has led a first-class side – the first came a decade ago for South Australia – yet he is relishing the extra responsibility.
“It’s a bit strange putting a ‘C’ next to my name, but I’ve played 120-odd Tests now and feel I’ve got something to offer the younger lads,” he said in Sydney before flying west. “The aim is simple: bowl a lot of overs, keep my rhythm and help the group make good decisions.”
Lyon expects three Sheffield Shield outings before the opening Test in Brisbane. New South Wales head coach Greg Shipperd welcomed the arrangement, believing it benefits both state and country.
“Having Nathan around full-time for a month is gold for us,” Shipperd said. “He’s one of the game’s best thinkers, and the younger bowlers hang on every word.”
Spin or nothing?
Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, suggested during squad announcement that flexibility is paramount. “The Australian summer is long,” Key noted. “We’ll pick the attack we think can take 20 wickets each week.” His comments have been interpreted as a hint that Jacks may play primarily as a batting all-rounder, leaving Bashir on drinks duty.
Former England spinner Ashley Giles, who toured in 2002-03, believes going without a specialist could backfire. “Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are brilliant but they can’t bowl all day,” Giles told BBC Radio. “You still need someone who can control an end when the Kookaburra goes soft. If that’s not a spinner, I’m not sure who it is.”
Pitch personalities
The Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground traditionally offer something for spinners as matches wear on. Perth’s Optus Stadium and Melbourne’s MCG are more variable, but Lyon argues that judicious use of overs rather than raging turn is what matters.
“You might only get 12-15 overs a day in Perth, but they’re the key overs after lunch or before the new ball,” he said. “That’s where a spinner can change a game.”
With the Ashes opener less than six weeks away, conversations around balance will intensify. Lyon’s stance is predictable but refreshingly direct. Whether England listen may define the series.
